Question

Which of the following sets is not showing heterospory and heterophily?
A. Psilotum, Lycopodium, Pteris and Adiantum
B. Selaginella, Salvinia, Lycopodium and Pteris
C. Salvinia, Lycopodium, Selaginella, Psilotum
D. Salvinia, Selaginella, Azolla and Lycopodium

Answer 1

Hint: The term heterospory determines the spore formation in plants, e.g. in Selaginella. Selaginella contains both megaspore and microspore. Microspore is the small minute spore or male sporangium and megaspore is the female and it is bigger in structure. Heterophily is shown in leaf structure and venation. Plants have different ways of show-casing heterospory and heterophily.

Complete answer:
Option A: Psilotum, Lycopodium, Pteris and Adiantum- these species of plants do not show heterospory and heterophily as they have single spores and they are homosporous.
Option A is the correct answer.
Option B: Selaginella, Salvinia, Lycopodium and Pteris- Selaginella as we discussed shows both the spores hence, it cannot be homosporous.
Option B is not the correct answer.
Option C: Salvinia, Lycopodium, Selaginella, Psilotum- only Salvinia shows heterophily and heterospory other than that no other species shows.
Option C is not the correct answer.
Option D: Salvinia, Selaginella, Azolla and Lycopodium- Azolla and Selaginella are heterosporous but others are not.
Option D is not the correct answer.

So, Option A is the correct answer.

Note:
Plants bear different types of fruits according to climatic conditions and temperature. The soil they thrive in, the climate they adapt in, they bear fruit of the same variety. Speciation also matters as different species of the same plant variety bear different fruits in shape and sizes. For example- mango. fruits which have spines or pointed-like structures on the surface are called spiny fruits. Example- jackfruit, mulberry and breadfruits.